Page 2 - How to Go Boating Flip 1
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This time last year I was writing How to Catch Fish and One of the reasons I
Where, which became a bestseller on the New Zealand have built up a large store of
non-fiction list. When my publisher, Bill Honeybone, knowledge is that I showed
approached me with plans for another book, everything no fear. I don’t mean that in any egotistical way and it doesn’t mean
fell into place. How to Go Boating and Where is the I don’t feel it (feeling enough fear every time I’ve crossed a bar has
result. kept me safe so far). Being prepared to push the boundaries means
you have unique experiences, but you need to plan, develop a very
To begin, I think it’s only fair that I explain why I have the credentials good knowledge of safety systems, and take the right equipment to
to write this book. Like most Kiwi kids who get into fishing and boating, mitigate the risks. And I did. With like-minded people there were great
my time on the water began aboard relatives’ boats before Dad bought adventures.
our first family boat. That boat later became stationed at a family bach
at Raglan and it was there, in the often challenging conditions of the Some of the best adventures of recent times have been with my
west coast of the North Island, that I learnt my craft. wonderful friends John and Christine Erkkila aboard their beautiful
vessels. Trips to the very remote Chesterfield Reef, the more isolated
And there were lessons to learn! For example, the day we had a parts of Vanuatu plus Tonga and New Caledonia are highlights of
fire behind the dash of the boat, miles from any other boat, was the a boating career that I would never have experienced without their
day I decided I really had to learn about marine electrical systems. generosity.
Later I would start a marine electronics business, in an inland city no
less, that became one of the biggest in the country. During that time my career evolved from marine electronics to
fishing magazine editor, a position I held until a few years ago. There
Before that there was an aborted boat-building career (I was were many boat tests completed and even more hours spent on the
part of the fallout from Muldoon’s infamous boat sales tax of the late water during that phase of my life. Now I get to write books so I can
1970s), time spent working on and refurbishing fibreglass boats, share what I’ve learnt throughout those years — at least when not
marine retail, time as a deckhand game fishing in Cairns, substantial doing my day job of graphic, catalogue and website design.
time aboard or running a launch out of Tauranga and, somewhere in
between those things, I fitted in the time to be apprenticed to my father I’ve written this book primarily for those wanting to make their
and become a craftsman plumber and gasfitter; the third generation first entry into the world of boat ownership. There is plenty of
of plumbers in the family (as was my brother, who stuck with plumbing information here to help guide your first purchase. It should also be
and has now retired!). There is now a fourth generation. required reading for anyone who crews aboard a boat; it will help you
understand the terminology and equipment, safety and navigation. I
also hope it will be a ready reference to turn to as your skills develop.
Mike Rendle
This time last year I was writing How to Catch Fish and One of the reasons I
Where, which became a bestseller on the New Zealand have built up a large store of
non-fiction list. When my publisher, Bill Honeybone, knowledge is that I showed
approached me with plans for another book, everything no fear. I don’t mean that in any egotistical way and it doesn’t mean
fell into place. How to Go Boating and Where is the I don’t feel it (feeling enough fear every time I’ve crossed a bar has
result. kept me safe so far). Being prepared to push the boundaries means
you have unique experiences, but you need to plan, develop a very
To begin, I think it’s only fair that I explain why I have the credentials good knowledge of safety systems, and take the right equipment to
to write this book. Like most Kiwi kids who get into fishing and boating, mitigate the risks. And I did. With like-minded people there were great
my time on the water began aboard relatives’ boats before Dad bought adventures.
our first family boat. That boat later became stationed at a family bach
at Raglan and it was there, in the often challenging conditions of the Some of the best adventures of recent times have been with my
west coast of the North Island, that I learnt my craft. wonderful friends John and Christine Erkkila aboard their beautiful
vessels. Trips to the very remote Chesterfield Reef, the more isolated
And there were lessons to learn! For example, the day we had a parts of Vanuatu plus Tonga and New Caledonia are highlights of
fire behind the dash of the boat, miles from any other boat, was the a boating career that I would never have experienced without their
day I decided I really had to learn about marine electrical systems. generosity.
Later I would start a marine electronics business, in an inland city no
less, that became one of the biggest in the country. During that time my career evolved from marine electronics to
fishing magazine editor, a position I held until a few years ago. There
Before that there was an aborted boat-building career (I was were many boat tests completed and even more hours spent on the
part of the fallout from Muldoon’s infamous boat sales tax of the late water during that phase of my life. Now I get to write books so I can
1970s), time spent working on and refurbishing fibreglass boats, share what I’ve learnt throughout those years — at least when not
marine retail, time as a deckhand game fishing in Cairns, substantial doing my day job of graphic, catalogue and website design.
time aboard or running a launch out of Tauranga and, somewhere in
between those things, I fitted in the time to be apprenticed to my father I’ve written this book primarily for those wanting to make their
and become a craftsman plumber and gasfitter; the third generation first entry into the world of boat ownership. There is plenty of
of plumbers in the family (as was my brother, who stuck with plumbing information here to help guide your first purchase. It should also be
and has now retired!). There is now a fourth generation. required reading for anyone who crews aboard a boat; it will help you
understand the terminology and equipment, safety and navigation. I
also hope it will be a ready reference to turn to as your skills develop.
Mike Rendle
